Multiple color flock printing machine



June 22, 1937. s. M. SCHWARTZ ET AL 2,034,827

MULTIPLE COLOR FLOCK PRINTING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet l N VE 1V T 0R8 S'QMUEL So /W42 72 50144980 J. TEAM/y BY l wza A TTORNEYS June 22, 1937. s. M. SCHWARTZ El AL MULTIPLE COLOR FLOCK PRINTING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheei 2 June 22, 1937.

s. M. SCHWARTZ ET AL 2,084,827 MULTIPLE COLOR FLOCK PRINTING MA CHINE Filed June 15, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 my c VNTORS I SAMUEL SC'f/WQATZ EON/9160 J. TEA NY )5 B Y June 22, 1937. s. M SCHWARTZ ET AL 2,084,827

MULTIPLE COLOR FLOCK PRINTING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 22, '1937. s. M. SCHWARTZ ET AL 2,084,827 I MULTIPLE COLOR FLOCK PRINTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 15, 1935 SAMuEL c 19272 raw V BY 5014 4160 J Mi. Q

A TTORNE m June 22, 1937. s. M. SCHWARTZ ET AL 3,034,327

MULTIPLE COLOR FLOCK PRINTING MACHINE Filed June -l5, 1935 6' Sheets-Sheet 6 Mv bm [N Vb N T 0R5 SAMUEL /'7. $04

A TTORNE Xs Patented June 22, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MULTIPLE COLOR FLOCK PRINTING CHlNE Samuel M. Schwartz and Edward J. Tenny, Paterson, N. J Schwartz said Tenny assignor to said Application June 15, 1935, Serial No. 26,732

29 Claims.

did not make it possible to obtain a multiplecolor flock print. In flock printing it is necessary to, arrange the printing means at a certain distance from the flocking means, so that the run of the fabric which is passed through a machine is quite long. Due to this length of fabric it was found impossible heretofore to construct a properly operating machine which would carry out two or more flock printing operations upon a single run of fabric. It was found in the past that whenever attempts weremade to combine more than one flock printing device in a single machine, the second printing did not register with the first one, due to stretch and distortion of the fabric during its passage from one flock printing device to the other.

Anobject of the present invention is the provision of a flock printing machine by means of which. a single run of fabric passing through the machine is subjected to two or more flock printing operations which are all in perfect registra tion with each other.

Another object is .the provision of a multiple color flock printing machine which is able to carry out several flock printing operations, preferably of different colors, in connection with, or supplementary to, the printing of a color pattern.

A further object is the provision of a textile printing machine comprising a plurality of flock printing means which may apply flock paste and/or fiock of different colors in perfect registry upon a fabric running through the machine.

A still further object of the present invention 'is the provision of a' multiple color flock printing machine comprising means for automatically adjusting the position of the blanket supporting the fabric during its passage through the machine.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a machine comprising a plurality of flock printing devices adapted to apply flock one after the other to the same fabric, a subsequently used flock printing device being provided with means maintaining in perfect condition the flock previously applied by another flock printing device.

A further object is the provision of a multiple a color flock printing machine provided with means for adjusting the positions of at least two flock stencils constituting a part of the machine, in at 4 least three difierent directions.

The above I and other objects of the present invention may be realized through the provision of a multiple color flock printing machine comprising an endless blanket which is driven by suitable means and which is passed over a curved arch-shaped support. The fabric to be treated is brought in contact with the blanket and travels along with it while the fabric is subjected to several flat printing and flock printing operations. The flock paste applied to the fabric by a flock stencil causes it to adhere to the .blanket while they are moved over the arch-shaped support, thus preventing any shrinkage of the fabric. The first flock applying device may be arranged approximately, in the middle of the arch-shaped support, while two flock stencils may be placed at the two ends of the support. A second flocking operation may take place after the fabric has been separated from the blanket. The operative surfaces of the stencil which is situated at the exit side of the arch-shaped support are provided with suitable cavities and indentations in order to avoid the removal of the previously applied flock. Brackets slidable upon guides forming a part of the main frame are used for adjusting the positions of the flock stencils, the printing rollers and the tension rollers. Automatically operable electric means are employed for preventing the slippage of the blanket.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing a preferred form of the inventive idea.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates diagrammatically the operation of the machine constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows in section the fabric traveling along with the blanket. v

Figure 3 shows the multiple color flock printing machine in side elevation.

Figure 4 is a top view of the machine.

Figure 5 is a section along the line v'55 of the Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an end view of the machine, looking in the direction of the arrow 6 shown in Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a detailed sectional view along the line l-T of Figure 3, on a larger scale.

Figure 8 is a section along the line 8-8 of Figure 3on a larger scale.

Figure 9 is a section along the line 99 of Figure 3.

Figure 10 is a section along the line Ill-I0 of Figure 3. Y

Figure 11 is an enlarged cross-section through a portion of the second stencil.

The general operation of the multiple color flock printing machine constructed in accordance with the present invention, is illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 1 of the drawings. The ma- I chine comprises an endless blanket 20 which passes around two large rollers 2| and 22. The tension of the endless blanket 2|! may be ad-. justed by means of adjustable tension rollers 23 and 46. Any lateral slippage of the blanket upon the rollers in a direction at right angles to the direction of its travel, is prevented by a blanketshifting roller 24 automatically operated by the shifting deviceE (Figure 5).

The fabric 25 is passed over a pressure roller or idler 26 and joins the blanket 20 at the point 21 upon the outer surface of the large roller 22. The fabric is moved together with the blanket around the roller 22 and is brought in contact with the first printer or printing roller 21 and the second printer 28. Then the fabric is brought in contact with the flock stencil 29 by means of which a flock paste of the desired color is a; plied in the form of a suitable design upon the surface of the fabric. The device for adjusting the position of the stencil 29 is designated by the letter C in Figure 5. The fabric and the blanket are. passed togetherover a curved supp rt 30.

In the modification illustrated, the support 30 is curved in the form of an arch. A flock applying device A is situated substantially in the middle of the support 30 and is used for applying the flock which may have suitable color or colors, by any suitable means such as compressed air, gravity or low-pressure air, upon the surface of the fabric, the superfluous flock being removed by suitable suction pipes forming a part of ,the device A. i

Figure 2 illustrates the fabric after it has passed the flock stencil 29. It is apparent from Figure 2, that the flock paste 3| applied to the fabric 25 by the stencil 29 penetrates through the entire fabric and reaches the blanket 20. Due to the adhesive quality of the flock paste, it connects the, fabric with the blanket and the fabric becomes glued to the blanket. At the same time, the fabric and the blanket areboth stretched over the support 30, and any possible distortion of the fabric is effectively prevented.

The flocking device A comprises a container 32 having a nozzle through which the flock 33'is applied by means of compressed air to the surface of the fabric 25. In the modification illustrated, the pipes 34 and 35 are used for blowing air upon the fabric while the pipes 36, 31 and 38 are under suction. The comminuted flock applied. to the surface of the fabric will adhere to the flock paste 3| and form small heaps 33' (Figure 11) which become impregnated with the flock J paste. The superfluous amount of flock which was not brought in contact with the flock paste, is removed by the blowing pipes 34 and 35 and 70 the suction pipes 36, 31 and 38.

The fabric, after having passed under the stuated close to the exit edge of the curved support 30.

After that, the blanket 20 is separated from the fabric 25. The fabric 25 continues to move in a substantially horizontal direction and is subjected to the action of a second flocking device B which in the modification illustrated, comprises a flock applying pipe 40 and five air-blowing and air-suction tubes 4| to 45.

The endless blanket is passed over the roller 2| and is then moved over the rollers 23, 46 and.

24 until it is brought again in contact with the fabric at the point '21. The blanket is cleaned while it passes over the rollers 2| and 46.

The above-described mode of operation, which is illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 1 of the drawings, makes it possible to apply flock pastes and/or flocks of different colors to one single run of fabric, thereby producing a multicolored fiock' printed fabric. The machineby means of which this result may be achieved will now be described in detail:

As shown in Figures 3 and 5 of the drawings, the large roller 22 is carried by a bracket I56 connected with the main horizontal frame 15. The frame 50 is used for carrying the idler 26 and the first printing roller 21. As shown more clearly in Figure 5, the horizontal frame 15 is supported by the two frames 50 and 16 extending substantially in vertical directions.

The hollow idler 26 is made integral with shaft stubs 5| which are rotatably mounted in U- shaped supports 52. As shown more clearly in Figure 5, the supports 52 are slidable in a direction substantially toward the center of the roller 22 along guide 53 which formsan integral part of the frame 50. The supports 52 may be held firmly in any desired position upon the-frame 50- by means of bolts 54.

The movements of each support 52 along the guide 53 are caused by means of a large bolt 55 having one end which presses against the support 52. The opposite end of the bolt 55 is r0- totably mounted in a bracket 56 which forms an integral part of the frame 50 and which is provided with inner screw threads which engage the screw threads of the bolt 55.

As shown in Figure 3, a gear-wheel 51 is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 5| and meshes with another gear-wheel 58 which is rotatably As shown in Figures 3, 5, and 6, the first' printing roller 21 is hollow and is firmly connected with shaft stubs 6|]. The two shaft stubs 60 are rotatably mounted in supports 6| which are open at one end to provide for a convenient removaland insertion of the roller 21 and of its shaft stubs 60. The supports 6| are slidable along guides 62' which form an integral part of the frame 50. Bolts are usedfor holding the supports 6| upon the guides 62. A separate adjusting bolt 63 presses with one of its ends against each of the supports 6|. The bolts 63 are carried by the supports 64 which form an integral part of the frame 56 and which are provided with inner screw threads meshing with the outer screw threads of the bolt 63. Due to this arrangement, the position of the first print- 1 ing roller 21 upon the frame 58 may be conveniently adjusted by loosening the'bolts 65 and by turning the bolts 63 which in their turn move the supports 6|.

The shaft 68 carries a gear-wheel 66 which meshes with the gear-wheels 58 and 61, and which is loosely mounted upon the shaft 68.

The gear-wheel 86 .is connected with a worm gear 68 which meshes with another gear-wheel 69 mounted upon the shaft 68.

The purpose of the worm gear 68 is to provide a convenient adjustment between the first printing roller 21 and the second printing roller 28. By turning the worm gear 68, the pinion 69, the

' shaft 68 and the toothed wheel 66 will be rotated, thereby changing the relative position of the first printing roller- 21.

The printing material is applied to the printing roller 21 in the usual manner, the superfluous amount being collected in a container 18 which is attached to the frame 58.

As shown more clearly in Figure 3 of the drawings, the shaft I55 carrying the large roller 22 is rotatably mounted in brackets I56 connected'with the horizontal frame 15.

The'shaft 19' of the second printing roller 28 is carried by brackets 13 which are open at one end so thatthe roller may be inserted and removed at will. The brackets 13 are slidable along guides 14 which form a partof the vertical frame 15.

is loosely mounted upon the shaft 19. The gearwheel 88 is rigidly connected with a worm gear 8| which is in engagement with the gear-wheel 82. The object of this arrangement is to provide the usual means for adjusting the position of the second printing roller 28 whenever such adjustment is needed.

A scraper 83, one end of which is in contact with the surface of the second printing roller 28, is situated underneath this roller. The opposite end of the scraper 88 projects into the interior of a container 84 which is used for removing the superfluous amount of the printing material carried by theoroller 28. a

' The first flock stencil 29 andthe' device C for adjusting the position of this stencil are illustrated in Figures 3, 5, 6, and 8 of the drawings. As shown more clearly in Figures 4 and 8, the device comprises two cylindical bearing members 86, one of which is surrounded by a crown-shaped gear wheel 81. Each of the two edge portions of the stencil 29 is firmly connected with aseparate ring III which rests upon a bearing member 86 and is in frictional contact therewith.

Bolts 88 connect the ring III with the gearwheel 81. (Figure.8.) r

Flock paste is applied to the inner walls of the stencil 29 by means of a trough comprising a curved slanting wall I51 which is adjustably mounted in a support 89. The support 89 is attached to the side walls of one of the frame members 98'by means of bolts 9| passing through suitable openings formed in the support 89. (Figure 3.)-

A doctor blade 92 used for pressing flock paste through the perforations of thestencil 29 is adjustably mounted upon a support 93 which is attached by means of bolts 94 to the frame 98.

Flock paste is introduced into the trough formed by the wall I51 and the doctor blade 92 within the hollow stencil 29 by any suitable means not shown in the drawings.

The cylindrical bearing member 86 may be adjusted in the vertical direction by means of two hand wheels 95 each of which is firmly connected with a separate threaded shaft 96 (Fig. 6).

Each shaft 96 is carried by a tubular portion 91 of a separate cover 98 which is connected by bolts 99 with one of the frame members 98. The lower end of each shaft 96 is shaped in the form of an abutment I88 which is connected with the bearing member 86 by means of a retaining plate I8I (Figure 8).

-When the wheel 95 is rotated in such manner that the shaft 96 is moved upwardly, the abutment I88 pulls upwardly the cylindrical bearing member 86 thereby raising the flock stencil 29.

The flock stencil is adjusted in a horizontal direction by means of two hand wheels I82 each of which is rigidly mounted upon a separate shaft I83, the free end of which presses against the lower portion of the frame 98 (Figures 4 and 6). The frame 98 is carried by a support I84 resting upon the horizontal frame and provided with guides I85 which are in frictional contact with the bottom surfaces of the frame 98 (Figures 3 and 5) The stencil 29 also may be adjusted in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction of adjustment which is accomplished by means of the hand wheel I82. This second adjustment may be carried out by a bolt II9 which is rotatably mounted in a support I 28 attached to the frame 15. The free end of the bolt H9 is in engagement with amember I2I which forms a part of the support I84. By rotating the bolt 9, the stencil supporting device'including the support I84 and the frame 98, is caused to move along the guides I58 forming a part of the frame 15.

The gear-wheel 81 connected with the stencil 29 engages a gear-wheel I86 which is keyed upon the shaft II8. A wheel I81 is firmly connected with a worm I88 and is mounted upon a sleeve I59 carried by the shaft II8 (Figure '7). A pinion I89 keyed upon the shaft II8 meshes with the worm I88. By turning the worm I88, the position of the gear-wheel I 86 and of the gearwheel 81 may be conveniently adjusted.

The machine is' driven by a motor which is not shown in the drawings and the rotation of which is transmitted by a belt I I2 to a pulley I I3 which is keyed upon the driving shaft II4. A gear box H5 transmits the motion of the drivling shaft II 4 to a gear wheel II6, the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of a large toothed crown II1 which is rigidly connected and rotatable along with the large cylinder 22. The toothed crown II1 meshes with the gear wheel II8, the teeth of which engage the teeth of the pinion I68 keyed upon the sleeve I59 (Figure 7). The rotation of the pinion I88 is transmitted through the sleeve I59 and the worm I88 to the gear-wheel I86 which meshes with the toothed wheel 81 firmly connected with the stencil 29.

Due to the above-described arrangement, the stencil 29 is rotated by the driving shaft H4.

The fabric leaving the stencil 29 and passing over the arch-shaped support 38 is quite firmly connected with its blanket 28. This firm connection between the fabric 25 and the blanket 28 is caused by the flock paste 3| which is pressed by the doctor'blade 92 through the perforations of the stencil 29. The flock paste passing through these perforations is applied to the fabric at certain predetermined portions of its surface corresponding to the flock design which is to be imprinted upon the fabric. The consistency of the flock paste is such. that it penetrates rapidly, through the entire thickness of the fabric and reaches the blanket 20 (Figure 2). The flock paste should be sufiiciently adhesive to establish a fairly permanent connection between the fabric and the blanket. Due to this adhesive quality of I fabric relatively to the blanket 20 is effectively prevented.

In the course of this movement, the fabric 25 and the blanket pass under the flocking device A. As has been described already in relation to Figure 1, the flock situated within the tube or container 32, is caused by the action of compressed air to pass through the nozzle of the container 32 and is applied upon the surface of the fabric 25. The flock adheres closely to those portions of the fabric which are covered by the flock paste, so that the flock paste acts as a glue by means of which the flock becomes firmly and permanently attached to the fabric.

Compressed air which is blown upon the fabric through the pipes 34 and 35 and the suction which is produced by the pipes 36, 31 and 38, remove from the surface of the fabric all flock which has not come in contact with the adhesive flock paste and which has not become glued to the fabric by this flock paste.

The device D used for supporting and adjusting the second flock stencil 39, which-is situated at the opposite exit end of the arched support 30, is substantially similar to the device C for adjusting the first flock stencil 29 (Fig. 3).

The second stencil 39 must comprise not only those perforations which are necessary for applying the second fiock paste upon the surface of the fabric but must also comprise perforations or cavities which correspond to the perforations of the first stencil.- Otherwise, the

flocked design produced by the first stencil 29 and the first flock blowing device A would be destroyed by the second stencil 39. A convenient way of shaping the operative surfaces of the second stencil is illustrated in Figure 11 of the drawings which show a section through a portion of thefabric while it is in contact with the outer surface of the second stencil 39.

As shown in Figure 11,the fabric 25 has been provided with protruding colored portions 33 which constitute the design produced by the first stencil 29 and the first flock blowing device A. When these protruding portions 33 come under the second stencil 39, they are covered by cavities I 25 formed in the outer surfaces of the second stencil 39. Although the flock 33 may be somewhat flattened by the bottoms of the cavities I26, in actual practice, there will be little difference in the thicknesses of the flock produced by the second flocking operation. and of the flock produced by the first flocking operation.

The flock paste situated within the second stencil 39 is pressed through perforations -I21 formed in the walls of the second stencil'39 and is deposited in the form of protruding portions- I28 upon the surface of the fabric 25'.

The stencil 39 is firmly connected with a The gear wheel I20 which is also carried by the shaft I2I meshes with the gear wheel I25. A large toothed crown I30 which isrotatable along with the large cylinder 2I, meshes with the gear wheel I25 and is also in engagement with gear wheel I3I which is driven by gears situated within the gear box I32. As shown in Figure 3, the gear box I32 is firmly connected with the driving shaft H4 and is situated opposite the gear box II5.

A Worm I22 used for adjusting the positions of the gear wheels I23 and I29 is firmly connected with a wheel I24 which is rotatable along with the wheel I20. A pinion I09a meshing with the worm I 22 is keyed upon the shaft I2I. I

The second stencil 39 is carried by two cylindrical bearing members I33 (Figs. 3- and 4). Plates I34, one of which is shown in Fig. 3, connect each of the bearing members I33 with the lower end of a separate threaded shaft I35, the

upper end of which carries a hand wheel I35. Each of the shafts I35 is supported by a separate cover I31 attached by bolts I38 to the frame I39. By rotating the hand wheels I36, the position of the bearing members I33 and of the second stencil 39 carried by these bearing members, may

be conveniently adjusted in the vertical direction.

The doctor blade I42 is used for pressing flock 'paste through the perforations provided in the second stencil 39.

The position of the second stencil 39 may be adjusted in the horizontal plane in two directions perpendicular to each other by substantially the same means as those used for adjusting the position of the first stencil 29.

The adjustment in the direction perpendicular to that of the plane of Figure 3 is carried out by means of hand wheels I44 keyed upon threaded shafts I45, the opposite ends of which press against the lower portion of the frame I39, (Figs. 3 and 4) The frame I39 is slidably mounted on guides I46, the upper surfaces of which are in contact with the lower surfaces of the frame I39.

The guides I46 form a part of the horizontal support I41. The support I41 is movable in a direction at right angles to the direction ofthe above-described movement by means of one or more bolts I48 carried by a support I49 firmly attached to the frame 45. The threaded end of the bolt I 48 engages a lug I50 forming a part of the support I41. By rotating the bolt I48, the horizontal support I41 is moved along the guides I5I which form a part of the frame 15.

The frame 15 carries a bracket I52 which is suspended from the frame 15 and which carries the shaft I53. The large roller 2I and the gear .wheel I30 are both mounted upon the shaft I53.

The fabric 25 leaves the blanket 20 at the point IIiI (Figure 1), i. e. after it has passed between the second stencil 39 and the large roller 2|. As

shown'in Figure I; the fabric 25 after it has been The blanket 20- continues to move around the large-roller 2|. As has been mentioned already,

the blanket 20'carries a certain amount of the flock paste which has reached the blanket after having penetrated through the fabric. This flock.

paste is removed and the blanket is cleaned in two separate cleansing operations.

A roller I62 rotatably mounted underneath the large roller 2I is in frictional contact with the blanket 20 passing around the large roller 2I. The lower portion of the roller I62 is immersed in a container I63 which is filled with a cleansing and paste-dissolving liquid. Adoctor blade I64 is attached to the walls of the container I63 and comprises an edge which is brought in contact with the blanket after the latter has passed beyond the roller I62.

A large part of the flock paste carried by the blanket 20 is scraped off by means of the doctor blade I64.

The tension of the endless blanket 20 may be adjusted by adjusting the position of the tension roller 23. As shown more clearly in Figures 3, 5, and 10 of the drawings, the tension roller 23 is rigidly connected with shaft stubs I65 and I66 which are supported by U-shaped brackets I61 and I68, respectively, (Figure 10).

The position of the tension roller 23 may be adjusted by turning a hand .wheel I69 which is keyed upon the shaft I10. The shaft I10 is carried by bracket I1I which is suspended from a second horizontal frame I12, forming a part of and situated underneath the horizontal frame 15. The shaft I10 extends underneath the roller 23 'and is integral with a cone gear "211 which is situatedadjacent to the hand wheel I69. The cone wheel I12a meshes with a cone wheel I13 which is keyed upon one end of the threaded shaft I14. The shaft I14 is supported by a bracket I15 which is attached to the horizontal frame I12 and by another support I16 which is attached to the horizontal frame 15.

The threads of the shaft I14 are in engagement with the inner threads of a hollow lug I11 forming an integral part of the bracket I61. The bracket I61 is slidably mounted upon the rod I18, the ends of which are carried by the supports I15 and I16.

The rotation of the shaft I10 is transmitted to a cone gear I19 which forms an integral part of the shaft I10 and which is situated close to the free end of the shaft I10 carried by bracket I80, which is connected with the horizontal frame I12. The cone gear I19 meshes with the, cone gear I8I which is keyed upon a threaded shaft The shaft I82 is carried by a support I83 which is connected with the frame I12 and another support I84 which is connected with the frame 15. A hollow lug I85 has inner screw threads meshing with the screw threads of the threaded shaft I02, The lug I85 forms an integral part of the bracket I68.

The bracket I68 is slidably mounted upon a vertical rod I86, the ends of which are carried by the supports I83 and I84.

7 When. the hand wheel I69 is rotated, this rotation is transmitted through the medium of the shaft I10 to the cone gears I12a and I19. Since the cone gears I13- and I8I are rotatable along with the threaded shafts I14 and I82, respectively, and since these gears engage the conegears 512a and I19, the rotation of the hand wheel I69 will cause a rotation of the threaded shafts I14 and I82. This rotation will cause a simultaneous downward or upward movement of the brackets I61 and I68 carrying the shaft stubs I65 and I66 of the adjusting roller 23.

The blanket 20, after having been passed around the adjusting roller 23, is subjected to the second cleansing operation, as shown in Fig ures 3 and 5. The blanket 20 passes around the roller 46 rotatable along with its shaft I which is carried by U-shaped brackets I9I attached by bolts I92 to the vertical frame 16. The brackets I 9| are movable along oblique guides I93 which form an integral part of the frame 16.

The blanket 20, passing around the roller 46, is brought in contact with a roller I94, the lower portion of which is situated within a container I95 filled with a cleansing and flock-dissolving liquid. A doctor blade I96 is attached to the container I95 and comprises an edge which is in frictional contact with the blanket. The doctor blade I96 scrapes off the remains of the flock paste still adhering to the blanket, so that the blanket leaving the roller 46 is substantially free from all fiock paste and is sufficiently clean ,to serve as a support for a new run of fabric which is brought in contact with the blanket at the point 21 (Figure l).

The blanket 20 is passed over a roller 24 which is connected with a device E (Fig. 5) used for the purpose of preventing any shifting of the blanket in directions perpendicular to the direction of its movement.

This automatically operable device E preventing the side shifting of the blanket is illustrated more clearly in Figures 4 and 9- of the drawings. The hollow roller 24 is rigidly connected by its two ends with shaft stubs I91 and I98 which are rotatably mounted in the two brackets I99 and 200, respectively. These brackets are integral parts of a horizontal frame 20I which extends underneath the roller 29.

The frame 20I is provided with a central portion 202 having the form of a sleeve which surrounds a pivot 203, mounted upon a support 204 which is attached to the frame I12. The frame MI is provided with lugs which carry rollers 205 and 206. Due to the described arrangement, the roller 29 can swing around the pivot 203 while the rollers 205 and 206 serve the purpose of supporting the frame 20I and of facilitating its movements around the pivot 203.

A lug 201 forms an integral part of the bracket I99 while a similar lug 208 forms an integral part of the bracket 200. As shown more clearly in Figure 4,, an endless cable 209 passes through suitable openings formed in the lugs 201 and 208. Any suitable clamping means may be used for firmly connecting the lugs 201 and 208 with the cable, so that as soon as the cable is moved theframe 20I is caused to turn around the pivot 203.

The cable 209 is passed over four pulleys 2I0, 2H, 2I2- and 2I3 which are supported by the vertical frame I12. As shown in Figure 4, the cable 209 is wound a few times over a pulley 2| 5 which is situated between the pulley 2I2 and the lug 201 of the frame 20I.

The horizontal frame I12 carries a small electric motor 2I6, the shaft of which may be rotated in opposite directions depending upon the direction of the electrical current caused to flow through the motor 2I6. The shaft of the motor 2I6 drives a worm gear 2I1 which is in engagement wtih a pinion 2I8 keyed upon a shaft 2I9 which carries the pulley 2I5. The pulley 2I5 is rotatable along with its shaft 2I9. C

Two electrical switches or fingers 220 and HI are situated on the opposite sides of the blanket 20. These electrical fingers are connected by trical connections between the fingers 229 and through the motor 2 I 6.

22! on the one hand and the motor M6 on the other hand, are such that whenone of these two fingers is actuated, the electrical current passing through the motor 2| 6 is caused to flow in a certain pre-determined direction; when the other finger is actuated, the electrical current is caused to flow in the opposite direction. "Thus,

if thefinger 220 is actuated, the shaft of the motor H6 is rotated in the opposite direction from the direction of its rotation caused by operating the finger 22L The two fingers 22m and 22l thus operate as switches causing the rotation of the m btor H6 in two opposite directions.

When the blanket 20 shifts in a direction toward the finger 220, it comes finally in contact with this finger and moves it, closing thereby an electrical circuit which sends an electrical current The motor H6 is rotated and its motion is transmitted through the worm 2H to the gear wheel 2|8, the shaft H9, and the pulley 2I5. The pulley 2l5 when rotated, pulls the cable 209 thereby causing a movement of the roller 24 around its pivot 203. The roller 29 by moving to its new position causes the blanket 29 to slip back into its proper central position and to move out of contact with the finger 220. Then the electrical circuit is interrupted and the motor H6 is stopped.

If the blanket 20 is shifted in the opposite direction, it finally comes in contact with the finger 22! and by moving the finger 22l closes another electrical circuit which sends an electrical current in the opposite direction through the motor 2l6. The worm 2|! and the pulley US will be rotated in the opposite direction. The cable 209 will shift the roller 29 in the opposite direction until this roller will cause the blanket 2D to move out of .contact with the finger 22l and to assume its original position.

The described multiple color flock printing machine is used to produce a textile fabric having a fiock print consisting of many colors. As has been described already, the machine comprises two flock stencils 29 and 39, a flock applying device A situated between these two fiock stencils, and a second flock applying device B situated on the opposite side of the flock stencil 39 (Figure 1).

' Before the machine is operated, the position of the flock stencils 29 and 39 is adjusted to provide a perfect registry of design, each of the flock stencils being adjustable'in the vertical direction and in two horizontal directions. The. machine comprises two printing rollers 21 and 28 of the usual type which are adjustable in a direction toward the fabric. While the endless blanket 20 is being driven the position of the blanket is adjusted by the automatically operable roller 24.

The machineis driven by a motor which is not shown in the drawings and the rotation of which is transmitted to the driving shaft 4- and from said driving shaft by means of two sets of gears to the large rollers 2| and 22 and the stencils 29 and 39.

On the other hand, the rotation of the printing rollers 21 and 28 is caused by frictional contact with the endless blanket 20 and the fabric 25.

Since a too great pressure of the printing rollers 26 is transmitted by a suitable gear mechanism to the two printing rollers 21 and 28.

An important feature of the machine constructed in accordance with the present invention is the provision of means preventing the shifting or the stretch of the fabric in relation to'the blanket carrying this fabric. These means comprise a curved arch-shaped support situated between the two flock stencils. The shifting is further prevented by the fiock paste which penetratesthrough the fabric and glues it to the blanket.

Theblanket after having been. separated from the fabric is passed through a suitable cleansing device before it is brought again with the fabric which is being passed through the machine.-

What is claimed is:

1. A multiple color flock printing machine, comprising a flock stencil, a flock applying device, supporting means having a curved surface situated between said flock stencil and said flock applying device, and means for moving a. fabric from said flock stencil to said flock applying device and over said curved surface, said curved surface receiving the fabric as soon as it leavesthe flock stencil and carrying the fabric in bowed condition under the flock applying devices.

2. A multiple color flock printing machine, comprising a flock stencil, a flock applying device, an arch-shaped support situated between said flock stencil and said flock applying device, and means for moving a fabric from said flock stencil to said flock applying device and over said archshaped support, said arch-shaped support holding said fabric in arched condition while said flock is applied thereto.

3. A multiple color flock printing machine, com-, prising at least two flock stencils, an arch-shaped support situated between two flock stencils, a flock applying device situated over said support and between said two flock stencils, and means for moving a fabric from one of said two stencils to the other stencil over said arch-shaped support, said arch-shaped support holding said fabric in :rched condition while said flock is applied there- 4. A multiple color flock printing machine, comprising at least two flock stencils, an arch-shaped support situated between two flock stencils. a flock applying device situated over said support and between said two flock stencils, a blanket adapted to be moved from one of said stencils to the other stencil over said arch-shaped support, and means for placing a fabric upon said blanket before the blanket is moved past the firstmentioned stencil and for separating the fabric from the blanket after the latter has moved past the second-mentioned stencil.

' port and between said two flock stencils, an endless blanket extending adjacent to said flock stenoils. and over said arch-shaped support, means for moving said endless blanket, means for placing a fabric upon said blanket in front of one of said two stencils and for separating the fabric from the blanket after the latter has moved past the other one of said twostencils, and means for cleaning said blanket while the latter is out of contact with the fabric.

6. A multiple color flock printing machine, comprising at least two flock stencils, an arch-shaped support situated between two flock stencils, a

flock applying device situated over said support and between said two flock stencils, an endless blanket'extending adjacent to said flock stencils and over said arch-shaped support, means for moving said endless blanket, means for placing a fabric upon said blanket in front of one of said two stencils and for separating the fabric from the blanket after the latter has moved past the other one of said two stencils, and automatically operable means for adjusting the position of said blanket while the latter is being moved.

7. A multiple color flock printing machine, comprising at leasttwo flock stencils, each of said flock stencils having a perforated surface adapted to come in contact with a fabric, and

means for applying flock paste through the perforations of said surface upon said fabric; a flock applying device situated between said two stensaidflock stencils, the perforated surface of the last-mentioned stencil which is adapted to come in contact with said fabric, having cavities corresponding to the perforations of the first-mentioned stencil and adapted to cover the flocked portions of said fabric, said moving means comprising a continuous blanket and means for maintaining said blanket centered in respect to said flock stencils.

8..A multiple color flock printing machine,

comprising two comparatively large rollers, an

arch-shaped support extending from one of said rollers to the other roller, separate flock stencils situated adjacent to each of said rollers at opposite 'ends of said arch-shaped support, a flock applying device situated between the flock stencils and over said arch-shaped support, an endless blanket passing over said rollers and said arch-shaped support, means for rotating said rollers, and another roller situated adjacent to one of the first-mentioned rollers, a run of fabric being adapted to pass over the last-mentioned roller and to be moved along with said blanket from one flock stencil to the other flock stencilv 9. A multiple color flock printing machine, comprising two flock stencils, a flock applying device situated between said flock stencils, another fiock applying device situated on the opposite side of one of said flock stencils, an archshaped support situated between said flock stencils and adjacent to the first-mentioned flock applying device, a movable endless blanket passing over said arch-shaped support automatically operable means for adjusting the position of said blanket, and separate means for adjusting the positions of said flock stencils.-

10. A multiple color flock printing machine, comprising a frame,-two rollers rotatably supported by said frame, an arch-shaped support carried by said frame and extending from one of said rollers to the other roller, two flock stencils situated at opposite ends of said arch-shaped support, separate means connected with each of said flock stencils and said frame for adjusting the position of the flock stencils in the vertical direction and in at least two horizontal directions, a flock applying device situated adjacent to said arch-shaped support, an endless blanket passing over said rollers and said arch-shaped support, and means connected with said rollers for driving the same.

11. A multiple color flock printing machine, comprising a frame, two rollers rotatably supported by said frame, an arch-shaped support carried by said frame and extending from one of said rollers to the other roller, two flock stencils situated at opposite ends of said arch-shaped support adjacent to said rollers, separate means connected with each of said flock stencils and said frame for adjusting the position of the flock stencils in the vertical direction and in at least two horizontal directions,'a flock applying device situated adjacent to said arch-shaped support and between said flock stencils, a printing roller situated adjacent to one of the first-mentioned rollers, and carried by said frame, one of said flock stencils being situated between said flockapplying device and said printing roller, an endless blanket passing over the first-mentioned rollers and said arch-shaped support, and means for placing a fabric over said blanket and for moving said fabric along with said blanket over the first mentioned rollers and said arch-shaped support, whereby said fabric is brought in contact with said printing roller and said flock stencils and is moved past said flock-applying device.

12. A multiple color flock printing machine, comprising a frame, two rollers rotatably supported by said frame, an arch-shaped support carried by said frame and extending from one of said rollers to the other roller, two flock stencils situated at opposite ends of said arch-shaped support adjacent to said rollers, separate means connected with each of said flock stencils and said frame for adjusting the position of the flock stencils in the vertical direction and in at least two horizontal directions, a flock applying device situated adjacent to said arch-shaped support and between said flock stencils, at least two printing rollers situated adjacent to one of the first-mentioned rollers, another roller situated adjacent to the same one of the first-mentioned rollers, said printing rollers being situated between the last-mentioned roller and a flock stencil, which issituated between said flock applying device, and said printing rollers, separate means connected with said frame for adjustably supporting said printing rollers and the, lastmentioned roller, an endless blanket passing over the first-mentioned rollers and said archshaped support, and means connected with the first-mentioned rollers for rotating the same,

- whereby said blanket is driven, a fabric passing over the last-mentioned roller being moved along with said blanket and brought in contact with said printing rollers and the first-mentioned shaped support adjacent to said rollers, separate means connected with each of said flock stencils and said frame for adjusting the position of the flock stencils in the vertical direction and in at least two horizontal directions, a flock applying device situated adjacent to said arch-shaped support and betweenv said flock stencils, two

- printing rollers situated adjacent to one of the first-mentioned rollers, another roller situated adjacent to the same one of the first-mentioned rollers, said printing rollers being situated between the last-mentioned roller and a flock stenoil, which is situated between said .fiock applying device and said printing rollers, means conthefirst-mentioned rollers, a fabric passing over the last-mentioned roller being moved along with said blanket and brought in contact with said printing rollers and the first-mentioned flock stencil, saidfabric being then subjected to the operation of said flock applying device; and

broughtin contactwith the other one of saidv flock stencils.

14. A multiple color flock printing machine, comprising two flock stencils, an arch-shaped support situated between the two flock stencils, an endless blanket extending adjacent to said flock stencils and over said arch-shaped support, a roller, said blanket passing over said roller, a pivot, means rotatablysupporting said roller intermediate its ends, upon said pivot,

' electrically operable means connected with the last-mentioned means and adapted to turn said roller around said pivot in opposite directions, two members situated on opposite sides of said blanket and electrically connected with the lastmentioned means, said members being adapted, when brought in contact with said blanket, to actuate the last-mentioned means, the contact of said blanket with one of said members causing the last-mentioned means to turn said roller in one direction, while the contact of said blanket with the other one of said members causes the last-mentioned means to turn said roller in the opposite direction, means formoving said endless blanket, means for placing a fabric upon said blanket in front of one of said two stencils and for separating the fabric from the blanket after the latter has moved past the other one of said two stencils, said stencils being adapted to apply flock paste upon said fabric, and a device adapted to apply flock upon the surfaces of said fabric covered with the flock paste. 7 15. A multiple color flock printing machine comprising two flock stencils, an arch-shaped support situated between the two flock stencils,

an endless blanket extending adjacent to said connecting said electric motor with said pulley,

two. members situated on opposite sides of said blanket and electrically connected with said electric motor, said members being adapted, when brought in contact with said blanket, to

actuate the last-mentioned means, the contact of said blanket with one of said members, causing the electric motor to turn said pulley in one direction, while the contact of said blanket with the other one of said members causes the electric motor to turn said pulley in the opposite direction, means for moving said endless blanket, means for placing a fabric upon said blanket in front of one of said two stencils and for separating thefabric from the blanket after the latter has moved past the other one of said two stencils, 'said stencils being adapted to apply flock paste upon said fabric, the flock paste penetrating through the fabric and gluing the fabric to the blanket while they are moved over the arch shaped support, and a device adapted to apply flock upon the surfaces of said fabric which are covered with the flock paste.

tation of said driving shaft to the other one of the first-mentioned gear wheels, other gear wheels transmittingthe rotation of said other one of the I first-mentioned gear wheels to the other one of said toothed crowns, two printing rollers situated adjacent to one of the first-mentioned rollers,'another roller situated adjacent to the same one of the first-mentioned rollers, said printing rollers being situated between the last-mentioned roller and that flock stencil which is situatedadjacent to the same one' of the first-mentioned rollers, means for pressing the last-mentioned roller against the adjacent first-mentioned roller, a gear drive transmitting the rotation of the lastmentioned roller to said printing rollers, an archshaped support situated between the two flock stencils, a flock applying device situated over said arch-shaped support and between the two flock stencils, and an endless blanket passing over the first-mentioned rollers and said arch-shaped sup.- port and adapted to be driven by the first-mentioned rollers.

1'7. A multiple color flock printing machine, comprising a frame, two rollers rotatably supported by said, frame, an arch-shaped support carried by said frame and extending from one of said rollers to the other roller, two flock stencils situated at opposite ends of said arch-shaped support, separate bearing means for each of said fflock stencils, separate means connected with each of said bearing means for adjusting the same in'the vertical direction, means for adjusting the last-mentioned means in a horizontal direction, means connected with said frame for adjusting the last-mentioned'means in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the first-mentioned horizontal direction, a flock applying device situated adjacent to said arch-shaped support, an endless blanket passing over said rollers and said arch-shaped support, and means connected with said rollers for driving the same.

18.A multiple color flock printing machine, comprising a frame, two rollers rotatably supported bysaid frame, an arch-shaped support carried by said frame and extending from one of said rollers to the other roller, two flock stencils situated at opposite ends of said arch-shaped crowns, another gear drive transmitting the rosupport, rings firmly connected with said flock stencils, cylindrical bearing members supporting said rings, threaded vertical shafts carrying said bearing members, means for adjustably supporting said vertical shafts, means connected with said frame and with the last-mentioned means for adjusting the same in two horizontal directions which are perpendicular to each other, a flock applying device situated adjacent to said arch-shaped support, an endless blanket passing over said rollers and said arch-shaped support, and means connected with said rollers for driving the same.

19. A multiple color flock printing machine, comprising a frame, two rollers rotatably supported by said frame, an arch-shaped support carried by said frame and extending from one of said rollers to the other roller, two flock stencils situated at opposite ends of said arch-shaped support, adjustable supporting means connected with each of said flock stencils and said frame, an endless blanket passing over said rollers and said arch-shaped support, means for rotating said rollers to drive said blanket, said blanket moving along with a fabric adapted to be placed upon said blanket infront of one of said two stencils and to be separated from the blanket after the latter has passed the other one of said two stenoils, a flock applying device situated adjacent to said arch-shaped support and between said flock stencils, two adjustable rollers carried by said frame, said blanket passing over the last-mentioned rollers after it has been separated from said blanket, the surfaces of said rollers which come incontact with said blanket being adapted to be covered by a cleansing liquid, and a separate scraper situated adjacent to each of the last-mentioned rollers and having an edge adapted to be maintained in contact with said blanket.

20. A method of securing registry between separated pairs of contacting printing rollers in connection with the printing of textile fabrics, which comprises carrying the fabric between the pairs of the contacting'printing rollers over a fixed arched surface which arched surface will extend between the printing rollers substantially up to the points of contact of said pairs and will take up and bow the fabric immediately it has passed out of one of the pairs of the printing rollers and will carry it until it has passed into the other' pair of the printing rollers.

21. A multiple printing machine for textile fabrics comprising a rotating carrier roller, a printing roller to print a fabric upon said carrier roller, a second carrier roller spaced substantially from the first carrier roller, a printing roller to print upon the fabric upon said second carrier roller and an arch to carry and bow the fabric from one printing roller to the, next printing roller, said arch being positioned substantially without gap between said printing rollers and extending into the gap between the contacting printing and carrier rollers up to the point of contact therebetween so as to take up the fabric as soon as it passes off the first carrier roller and to carry it until it passes directlyv on to the second carrier roller.

22. In a textile printing machine of the type including a carrier roller, amovable blanket to carry the fabric to be printed passing over said carrier roller, a bearing structure for said carrier roller, a pivotal mount for said bearing structure, means to swing said bearing structure upon said pivotal mount, guide means positioned on the sides of said blankets, and means actuated by said pressure on said guide means by said blanket to actuate said swinging means.

23. In a textile printing machine of the type including a carrierroller, a movable blanket to carry the fabric to be printed passing over the carrier roller, a bearing structure for said carrier 7 roller, a pivotal mount for said bearing structure and means to swing said bearing structure upon said pivot controlled by the position of said blanket upon said roller, said last mentioned means including contact members at the side of'the blanket positioned slightly away from the blanket when the blanket is in central position but contacting with the blanket when said blanket is off center, a motor, said contact members upon contact with said blanket actuatingsaid motor and an actuating connection from said motor to said p-vot to cause swinging movement of the bearing structure upon the pivot -to again center the blanket.

24. A textile fabric printing machine, comprising fiock stencils, an arch shaped support, an endless moving blanket extending adjacent to said flock stencils and over said arch-shaped support, a roller, said blanket passing over said roller, a pivot, means rotatably supporting said roller intermediate its ends upon said pivot, turning means connected with the last mentioned means and adapted to turn said roller around said pivot in opposite directions, two members situated on opposite sides of said blanket and connected with the last-mentioned means, actuating means operated by said members to actuate the turning means, the contact of said blanket with one of said members causing the turning means to turn said roller in one direction,

while the contact of said blanket with the other one of said members causes the turning means to turn said roller in the opposite direction and means for moving said endless blanket.

25. A textile fabric printing machine comprising an endless moving blanket, a roller, said blanket passing oversaid roller, a support rotatably supporting said roller, a pivot, said support being rotatably mounted upon said pivot, guide means controlled by the lateral position of said blanket, a motor actuated by said guide means when said blanket moves off its proper position and means to' causesaid roller to move to said roller on said pivot and thereby move said blanket laterally.

26. A multiple color flock printing machine, comprising two carrier rollers, two flock cylindrical stencils, each flock stencil being situated to roll on a separate one of said carrier rollers, a rotatable driving shaft, a drive transmitting the rotation of said driving shaft to said carrier rollers, printing rollers situated adjacent to and before at least one of said stencils and contacting with one of the first-mentioned rollers, an arch-shaped support situated between the two 'flock stencils and said first-mentioned rollers,

a flock applying device situated over said archshaped support and between the two flock stenoils, and an endless blanket passing over the first mentioned carrier rollers and said arch-shaped support and adapted to be driven by the firstseparate bearing means for each of said rollers and cylinders, a flock applying device situated adjacent to and above said arch-shaped support between said carrier rollers, an endless blanket passing over said rollers and said arch-shaped support, and means connected with said rollers for driving the same, said support extending into the recess between said contacting stencil and carrier rollers up to substantially the point of contact.

28. A textile fabric printing machine, comprising a frame, two carrier rollers rotatably supported by said frame, an arch-shaped support carried by said frame and extending from one of said rollers to the other roller, two printing rollers situated at opposite ends of said archshaped support contacting said carrier rollers, cylindrical bearing members supporting said rollers, an endless blanket passing over said carrier rollers and said arch-shaped support, and means connected with said carrier rollers for diving the same, said support extending into the recess between said contacting stencil and, carrier rollers up to substantially the point of contact.

29. A flock printing machine, comprising a frame, two rollers rotatably supported by said frame, an arch-shaped support carried by said frame and extending from one of said rollers to the otherroller, two flock stencils situated at opposite ends of said arch-shaped support, an endless blanket passing over said rollers and said arch-shaped support, means for rotating said rollers to drive said blanket, said blanket moving along with a fabric adapted to be placed upon said blanket in front of ,one of said two stencils and to be separated from the blanket after the latter has passed the other one of said two stencils and a flock applying device situated adjacent to said arch-shaped support and between said flock stencils. a

SAMUEL M. SCHWARTZ.

EDWARD J. TENNY. 

